Calgary Flames at Pittsburgh Penguins [Game 67]

			-AT-
			5:00 PM MST
Radio	Network		Arena		Network	Radio
960 AM CFAC	SN		PPG Paints Arena		ATT-P	105.9 FM WXDX
League	Value		Metric		Value	League
19th	55.3%		Points Percentage		59.1%	12th
22nd	15.79%		Net Power Play Percentage		25.71%	1st
18th	82.67%		Net Penalty Kill Percentage		84.33%	13th
20th	98.46%		Combined Special Teams Percentage		110.05%	1st
22nd	2.80		Goals for per Game (All Situations)		3.26	7th
15th	2.95		Goals against per Game (All Situations)		3.03	22nd
17th	.05		Penalty +/- per Game (All Situations)		-.11	20th
5th	52.63%		Shot Attempt Percentage (5V5 Score Adjusted)		51.91%	9th
7th	52.86%		Scoring Chance Percentage (5V5 Score Adjusted)		51.47%	11th
17th	99.63%		P.D.O. (5V5)		97.80%	31st
24th	7.13%		Shooting Percentage (5V5)		7.06%	26th
13th	92.50%		Save Percentage (5V5)		90.74%	31st
Data from Hockey-Reference.com and Natural Stat Trick
The Enemies’ Lair
PensBurgh

The Calgary Flames are eastbound and down, taking to the ice in western Pennsylvania as they take on the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Flames have hit something of a wall recently and are desperate for points as their playoff chances have fallen to just 15.4 percent. A victory tonight in regulation or overtime would increase their odds to 22 percent, a victory in the shootout would see them go up to 21.2 percent, a loss in overtime or a shootout would see them fall to 15 percent, and a loss in regulation would put them down to 10.1 percent.

The Flames will also be scoreboard watching as the Dallas Stars host the Ottawa Senators. That game swings the Flames playoff chances anywhere from -.3 to one percent depending on the outcome. A Senators victory is unlikely, but they would do the Flames a huge solid by winning.

Micheal Ferland and Curtis Lazar are returning to the lineup tonight while Nick Shore and Tanner Glass return to the bench. Nick Shore should probably be in over Lazar at this point and the Flames insistence on rolling out Lazar and Troy Brouwer could ultimately cost them a playoff spot. They are not NHL caliber players.

Jon Gillies gets the nod in net tonight. He’s up against Tristan Jarry for the Penguins. Both teams are missing their traditional starters as Mike Smith is out with a lower body injury and Matt Murray has a concussion.

The Flames come in with better possession numbers and better P.D.O. The former is generally pretty typical, the latter not so much. The one area where Pittsburgh absolutely destroys the Flames is on special teams – they have the number one power play and special teams in the league and while the Flames are 20th in the league. If the Flames can limit their penalties, they should have a good chance in this one. Moneypuck has Pittsburgh favoured in this one with a 54.6 percent chance of victory.

Puck drop is at 5:05 P.M. M.S.T.

by Les Mavus